Galen of Pergamum

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Galen of Pergamum

• A Greek Doctor in Rome

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Why were there Greek Doctors in Rome?

• Roman respect for Greek Culture/Ideas
• Greece became a Roman Province
• Some were Slaves/Freed Slaves
• Some attracted by salaries
• Good Reputation/Plausible explanation for
  illnesses

3
Claudius Galen The Early Years

• Born in Greece (Turkey) 131AD
• Trained in Alexandria
• 152 157
• Worked at Asclepion
• 157 - 162
• Went to Rome to make his Fortune
• 162
• Gladiator School
• 162 - 166
• Showman
• Page 43

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• Such stunts brought him to the attention of the
  Emperor

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Why is Galen Important

• Galen was not famous for having new
  groundbreaking ideas. Rather, he was famous for
  improving upon and communicating existing Greek
  ideas
• Four Humours
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Design
• Writings

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Four Humours

• Communicated the Hippocratic idea throughout the
  Roman Empire
• Galens Improvement
• Theory of Opposites
• Apply Cucumbers for fevers
• Hard physical exercise for weak people
• Singing for Chest complaints
• The idea of balance, moderation and regular
  exercise was received well by practical Romans

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Anatomy

• Galen took the Hippocratic idea of Observation
  into the body
• Widespread use of Dissection
• Exposure to Human dissections at Alexandria
• Pigs, dogs and Barbary Apes
• Made some serious mistakes in describing Human
  Anatomy
• Eg Only two chambers in Heart
• Meticulously recorded what he saw

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Physiology

• Galen used the data from his dissections and
  experiments to explain how the body worked
• Brain controlled Speech
• Role of Nerves
• Arteries carried Mixture of blood Air
• Blood originated in Liver
• Blood being continuously made and used up by the
  body

9
Design

• Galen took the Greek Holistic idea to explain how
  the body was an integrated whole
• Everything has a purpose
• Each organ has a specialised purpose but that
  they all need each other
• Will influence Muslim and Christian faiths

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Writings

• Galen took the Greek ideas on observation and
  Case notes to record and report on all of his
  medical procedures
• Prolific Writer
• 300 books (150 survive)
• Will provide the Library for Western Medicine
  for the next 1500 years.
• Mistakes and all!

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Curriculum Vitae

• Galen is applying for a job to be the Emperors
  Personal Physician. Write a CV to apply to this
  job. Include
• Full Name,
• Place and Date of Birth,
• Education
• Previous Work Experience
• Publications
• Personal Statement on Medical Beliefs

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Change and Continuity

• Page 49
• Read the articles on page 49
• List examples of changes in Roman Britain
• List examples of continuities in Roman Britain
• List the groups of people who benefited the most
  from Roman influence
• List the groups of people who benefited the least
  from Roman influence